As we sailed into our berth next to the Aloha Tower, there was a group on the pier performing traditional music and dancing to welcome us.
Approaching Honolulu
Honolulu Hula
We had spent several days in Honolulu in the Fall on 2003, so we felt we had seen most of what the excursions offered, so we decided to go out on our own. We heard there would be a Chinese New Year celebration at the Aloha Tower Marketplace, a small shopping mall next to the pier. I (Hanson) we out early to see if I could find a schedule. I couldn’t, but I did find a rainbow.
Honolulu Rainbow
At the left is a ship in the Maritime Museum, to its right the Aloha Tower, and further right the twin stacks and some radar domes of the ms Rotterdam.
After breakfast, we all got off the ship and wandered around the mall. John and Janice listened to a Feng Shui lecture. That was followed by a dragon dance.
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Then the dragons went around and people, specially the children, “fed” the dragon money for good luck in the new year.
Feeding the Dragon
As everywhere, the young children really get into it.
Boy with Dragon Puppet
We had lunch aboard ship. Then Janice and I set out to return to Hanauma Bay, a beautiful beach in and old caldera in the Southeast corner of Oahu. We had been there in 2003 but only briefly. As it turned out it was equally brief this time, too. We took a crowded public bus to Wakiki, then the Beach bus to the bay. By the time we got to the bay, we realized that we needed to head back soon. So we took a few photos and headed back to the ship.
Hanauma Bay
We find it one of the most beautiful beaches we’ve seen, so we were happy just to see it again.
After checking in with John, Janice and I went out again and found a free Wifi hot spot at the marketplace. On board, Internet time costs between 0.25¢ and 0.75¢ per minute depending upon how you buy it, so it is nice to find it cheaper or free. We returned to the ship for a BBQ picnic by the Lido pool and the sail away.
Aloha Tower Sailing Away from Honolulu